John Harrison made a stunning start to the final round of the Van Lanschot Senior Open as the Englishman pursues a maiden European Senior Tour title in The Netherlands.

The 52 year old began one shot behind overnight leader Gordon Brand Jnr in an eight-way tie for second place, but was quickest out of the blocks with back-to-back birdies to seize the lead. He then picked up another shot on the fifth before a bogey on the eighth momentarily halted his progress.

However he the birdied the ninth to reach the turn in 33 shots and move to level par for the tournament.

Harrison’s best performance in two years on the Senior Tour came in last year’s OKI Spanish Senior Open by Cleveland Golf/Srixon and it is a Spaniard, Juan Quiros, keeping the pressure on him.

Qurios picked up shots on the first, fifth and eighth to join Harrison on level par after eight holes.

Brand Jnr’s hopes were dented after a triple bogey seven on the par four sixth hole.